USATODAY.com Advertiser Listing Guidelines

The goal of the USATODAY.com links marketplace, powered by IndustryBrains, is to present to users and advertisers a comprehensive and relevant listing marketplace. The relevancy of categories, or "IndustryTarget" listings, are important to drive targeted customers to your business.

IndustryBrains doesn't use "bots" or "spiders" to judge relevancy. Our human editors look through each listing to make sure that the information is a good match for the site. In order to do so, our partners and advertisers must adhere to strict Listing Relevancy Guidelines.

They are as follows:

Search Terms
While category links will appear on our travel search pages, purchasing Search Terms is not an available feature on USATODAY.com at this time. Please use the IndustryTarget categories.

IndustryTarget Categories Deals should target the type of customers who might be surfing a particular destination or content area. For example, a listing that appears within Las Vegas content could target travelers interested in visiting Las Vegas. This could be a great place to promote time-limited hotel or airfare rates, special events in Las Vegas, or vacation packages.

URLs
The URL used for a particular link must bring an end-user directly to the details of the advertised deal. End-users must be able to return back to the USATODAY.com site simply by clicking on the Back Button. Preventing users from going back to the originating site is not allowed.

All URLs associated with your listings must load without excessive delay. Double-check your URLs to make sure there are no errors.

The URL associated with a link should not be a "Referring" URL. This means that upon one click of the Advertiser's listing, the user should not be forwarded to another web site.

For example, if a user clicks on the link for a Las Vegas deal at http://www.xyzcompany.com, the user should not be forwarded to another URL instantaneously without the user's consent. This is misleading and prevents the user from clicking back to the USATODAY.com site.

Clicking through to your site must not interfere with our browser's backbutton.
No spawning when we click through! Your site may generate a single pop-up console only, but it must not entirely block the USATODAY.com web site.

Multiple Listings
Advertisers may list multiple links for a category. You must select "Add Industry Target", re-select the category, and input the link details.

Titles and Descriptions
Titles and Descriptions must be relevant to the category as well as the site they are referring to. Having effective titles and descriptions will increase your chances of driving targeted buyers to your site.

1. Listings with text in ALL CAPS will be denied.
2. URLs and phone numbers within the listing information will also be denied.
3. No unnecessary exclamation marks.
4. Including the price and destination in the title and description greatly improves results
5. Maximum Title length: 50 characters.
6. Maximum Description length: 250 characters.

Thumbnail Graphics
You may include a thumbnail graphic to display alongside your link. The image must be 60x60 pixels, with a maximum 5K file size (.gif or .jpg). To submit a thumbnail graphic, please forward your Account ID, thumbnail files and a description of the corresponding link to clientservices@industrybrains.com

Specific Web Sites
All Web Sites listed must be an active and working web site. All non-working websites will not be approved.

Adult Content Sites
USATODAY.com does not allow Adult Content.

Search Engines and Directories
All Search engines and directories, pay for performance networks and Yellow pages must choose search terms that pertain to the nature of these sites, such as, "Search engine", "Yellow Pages", etc.

Gambling Sites
Gambling sites are sites that promote the act of gambling or actually take payment in return for a chance to win prizes. These sites will only be considered a gambling site if Gambling is the central theme. Advertisers may only bid on search terms that are associated with gambling, such as "poker", "Blackjack" or gambling specific games, like "Powerball Lottery".

Other Sites
Sites that promote email spamming will not be accepted on USATODAY.com.